I have never heard of Barbara Bonner before today. But when I saw the Andrea Fringed Bucket Bag, I was instantly intrigued. What sort of background would create an interesting and unique style such as this? Well, it turns out that Barbara Bonner was very well traveled as a child. Her maternal grandmother was a circus performer, of all things, and she rode a motorcycle in the “circle of death”. She spent her youth traveling everywhere from London to Toronto to Boston to Washington DC… and then back to her home in Italy. Needless to say, he style has been influenced by the cultures found in many different places. Pair that with influence from her paternal grandfather, the owner of the first jewelry shop in Verona, and you have quite a formidable design force.

Perhaps this is why I cannot take my eyes off of this handbag. It truly is mesmerizing! I think what caught my eye first was the multi-color tail-like tassel. And when I say tail-like, I’m not kidding! This tassel is full and flowing as it cascades down the side of this bag. I absolutely love the mix of corals and metallic silver. They pair unexpectedly well with the washed taupe color that is the body of this bag. Even more interesting, however, is the hunk of fool’s gold adorning the base of the tassel. I don’t think I have ever seen that on a handbag.